Digital Fabrication: Making Physical Objects from Digital Files

Digital Fabrication, or creating 3 dimensional solid objects from digital files is made up of two broad categories:

Rapid Prototyping (Additive Manufacturing)

Machining (Subtractive Manufacturing)

Each process offers benefits and challenges related to pricing, turnaround time, scale, surface texture, and material properties. For over 18 years Direct Dimensions has worked closely with our clients helping them to determine and execute the appropriate scanning and digital fabrication strategy for their overall sculpture project. Most cases involve a digital process and then a subsequent series of traditional artistic processes (casting, sculpting, polishing, finishing). In all cases, it is our goal to provide the right solution at the right price, while keeping the creative process in the control of the artist.

Fabrication Projects

Direct Dimensions does not fabricate internally. Why not? We are the experts in 3D scanning and digital modeling and we focus our resources on having the best, most thorough assortment of tools and talent available for capturing 3D data and making digital models. Our fabrication projects rely on our long-term industry partners with whom we have produced 100's of successful creations. With a myriad of options in materials, processes, and quality levels, our customers enjoy having our experience working for them to prevent costly mistakes or time consuming research.

Rapid Prototyping

Rapid Prototyping offers highly detailed, dimensionally accurate models built layer by layer in plastics, metals, bonded powders and waxes. Rapid Prototyping enables the manufacture of highly complex objects with internal cavities, extremely fine details and even interlocking, moving parts. Typically, rapid prototyping is the economical choice for objects that are particularly small or have very fine details although large parts as big as several feet in one dimension can be made.

CNC Machining

CNC Machining enables a form to be cut out of a desired material using a "Computer, Numerically Controlled" Machine. Mills can cut large or small objects, subject the size of the mill. Wood, metals, foam, stone, waxes, or even plastics can be cut to desired specifications. Typically with mlling, prices are very sensitive to the resolution requirements. It is often used as a method for creating dimensionally accurate scaled rough armatures in foam that will be subsequently be finished by hand by the artist and serve as a casting pattern. Other times the work of art is milled directly from the final material.